My journey with playing music started at six years old with piano lessons. Along my musical journey, I started the cello at 13 and a half at a summer programme funded by the Cayman Arts Festival (CAF). I went on to be awarded a scholarship three times to the renowned children’s summer festival, Luzerne Music Centre in upstate New York. During this time I realised my passion for teaching and introducing other Caymanians to playing the cello. I understood the importance of having a creative outlet in my own life and I was inspired to see what a positive effect it had in others. I was then awarded a British Government Scholarship to attend Wells Cathedral School in 2020, where I was a specialist musician. During my time there, I auditioned to three major conservatories and decided to commit to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where I am currently learning. Without the support of CAF and the Caymanian community, I would not have been able to do what I have done or found the courage to be a representative of our islands.
In 2019, I won the Butterfield Young Musician of the Year Award. Also in 2019 I was asked to play for King Charles when he visited our islands. I was awarded a full scholarship in 2017, 2018 and 2019 to attend Luzerne Music Centre. Since then, I have completed exams for cello with all of them gaining Distinctions. While at Wells I took part in two competitions, the first was the Midsummer Festival where I was awarded Highly Commended. In 2022, I was a finalist in the Young Musician of the Caribbean Award in the Dominican Republic. In addition to these honours, I have won numerous gold performances in the National Children’s festival of the Arts for both solo and ensemble pieces.
During this space of three years I have been honoured to have had masterclasses with esteemed players such as Hai-Ye Ni (Principal of the Philadelphia Orchestra), Gloria diPasquale (section member of the Philadelphia Orchestra), Sheku Kanneh Mason, Andrei Ionita, Josephine Knight (Professor of the RAM), Hannah Roberts (Sheku Kanneh’s former teacher), Steve Doane (Eastman School Professor).
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